The Israeli Communist Forum strongly condemns the two resolutions adopted by the Knesset on November 7. One was the decision to strip Knesset Member Azmi Bishara of parliamentary immunity, so that he could be put on trial for the content of speeches he had made; the other one, to pass a bill - in its first reading - which would disqualify parties from running in future parliamentary elections if they are deemed to have "supported an enemy state or a terrorist organization acting against Israel." The aim, in practice, is to exclude Arabs from membership in the Knesset.

This is the first time in Israeli history that a KM is stripped of immunity and about to stand trial solely for what he has said. This decision was taken at the recommendation of Attorney-General Elyakim Rubinstein, who is already notorious for his right-wing views and for their effect on his judicial decisions.

These Knesset resolutions are the most anti-democratic measures ever taken in the state of Israel. They threaten not just the Arab population and its representatives but the very existence of democratic rights in this country. Worldwide experience has shown that once such fascist steps are taken, they do not stop at the group which was the original target. Rather, they are bound to extend themselves and touch others, and in our case they will include Jewish Israelis, among them those who are now standing aside and accept these resolutions (or even support them actively)!

We condemn the attempt to portray as "terrorism" the just struggle of the Arab Palestinian people against occupation. We reiterate our position that the Palestinian people has the full right to struggle against the occupation and for the implementation of its just, legitimate rights, including the right to create its independent state. The end of the occupation of Arab Palestinian territories is not only a Palestinian interest. It is also the true interest of Israel. For Israel, too, needs to be liberated from the occupation. As long as the occupation continues, it will also continue to pay the heavy cost of casualties, as well as economic hardship.

We demand the immediate abolition of the Knesset's racist and anti-democratic resolutions!

The voice of the Arab population in Israel can never be stilled by any kind of administrative measures, which can only lead to exacerbation of the hatred between the two peoples!

We call upon all Jewish democratic forces to express forcefully their protest against the Knesset's racist and anti-democratic resolutions; to intensify the struggle for eliminating the occupation, for achieving a just peace on the basis of two states for the two peoples along the June '67 border, also to be applied in East Jerusalem; for elimination of all forms of discrimination against the Arab population of Israel in all spheres of life; and for defence of the full right of all political parties and groupings active within this population to freely express their positions and to take part on equal footing in all the discussions, debates, and decision-making processes on all issues on the public agenda.